Name: Taylor Soper
School: Marian University
Position: P
Height: 6-0
Weight: 240
Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?
My goals that I set out for this final season were to be an all-American, make all conference, and to help the team reach our goal of winning a national championship in anyway I could. I was able to accomplish making all conference while breaking some school records during this season.
Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?
I believe that they would say that I’m hardworking, competitive, and passionate about trying to improve my craft. I think they noticed when I would go out and kick on my own to improve on different game situations and when I would stay after practice to get extra kicks in.
Q: When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?
When watching film I always focus on my steps and my drop. I know that the drop is the most important part of punting and that I want my drops to be consistent so that my kicks are consistent. I then look at return tendencies like where the pressure is coming from, does the returner tend to return a certain way more than others, and is the returner aggressive. Based on these factors, I start to think of my own scheme to help my coverage team attack these tendencies.
Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?
The ability to perform different types of punts for different game situations. Being able to pin a team deep in their own territory, flip the field, coffin corner when needed, and get more hang time to allow my coverage team to get down the field. I also believe that being able to hold is another strength I have.
Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?
Currently I am apart of my University’s baseball team as a pitcher. Through this I am getting conditioning and lifting done. During my free time I go out and punt as much as possible so that I am continuing to kick incase an opportunity arises.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
My strengths that I would bring to a team is my ability to be a team player to reach the overall goal of winning the game. Not being selfish and going out there to punt the ball as far as I can but to be able to play situational football and pin a team deep in their own territory. Off the field I’m a good person and will be there for my teammates and will stay out of trouble so that I don’t harm the team.
Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?
My final pitch would be that if you want someone who can be a momentum shifter during the game I feel I would be a great fit. My ability to flip the field and pin a team deep in their own territory is something that I excel at which forces the opposing team to be placed in uncomfortable situations that would allow our defense to capitalize on or even give our offense a shorter field to work with. As my Head coach always said, “a game is usually decided by a few plays” and I feel that what I would bring to a team’s punting unit would be a difference maker in these plays.